Wisdom Teeth
 

Ok.... I'm having my wisdom teeth out in a couple weeks. I know right, tons o' fun!!! I've gotten a lot of stuff from my doctor like the post-op instructions, etc. So it's not like I'm trying to use GC for medical advice. ;) I have a rough idea of what to expect. (and btw... they are taking out all four of mine at once) However..... I know so many people have such differnt responses to this particular surgery. I was wondering if any of you would be willing to share their experiences and any useful tips. I really want to bounce back as fast as possible. :) Thanks my fellow GC'ers!

I didn't get any prescribed painkillers and was just advised to take a large amount of over the counter medicine (as opposed to my friends, who all got Percoset and Vicodin and other stuff). I had a really quick recovery, I was able to eat most normal foods within 3 days, wasn't in any pain just some minor discomfort at times, and that's about it. The only REALLY bad thing was that I threw up A LOT the first 2 days, but I think it was a mixture of all the blood I had swallowed (sorry for being graphic) and a bad reaction to the anesthia.

I had all 4 wisdom teeth extracted at once when I was 19. The doctor messed up one of the anesthetic blocks, so one extraction hurt - but as soon as I yelled, he re-did the block, let it take effect, and then tried again. That was the worst of it. I was up and about and eating solid food the next day. I took nothing stronger than Advil for the pain.

Translation: I had a really good oral surgeon, my teeth weren't too far gone at the time of the surgery, and I was very lucky.

Follow your doctor's instructions to the letter. Lay in plenty of soft foods, and don't drink through a straw (I'm sure your doc told you that).

Good luck to you. I hope your surgery goes as smoothly as mine did.

A lot about that surgery depends on the individual -- where the teeth are, etc. So for some, like me, who was out with friends the night after the surgery, it's not so big a deal.

For others, it is. Good luck with your surgery.

Make sure you have someone with you who will be capable of helping you get back to your place - not just driving, but walking. I had the twilight stuff and was doped up the rest of the day. They said I'd be able to walk out on my own, but my poor grandfather struggled just to get me to the car. I went home and slept for a few hours. I got up to go to the bathroom- and walked into the door three times before I realized I had to open it!

I didn't have much pain at all and I wasn't too terribly swollen. The next day I went out to eat and ate a grilled chicken sandwich! The hardest part was that your mouth is real tight - you can't open it up wide. Chewing didn't hurt or anything. The only day I really needed soft stuff was the first day. I had painkillers, I only took them for like a day and a half just because - I didn't really need them. After that it was just a bit sore- I just took some tylenol.

I got sick exactly one week after I had them out, but I'm pretty sure it was unrelated.

Other tips- make sure you sleep on an old pillow case when you get home and for the next day. Maybe even double up the pillow case - you will drool, and it will be blood tinged. Something else gross is that you'll have that coppery blood taste in your mouth for about a week. Your breath won't be too pleasant, either ;)

I was sick as a dog! I actually went back to work after the procedure because I was still numb, I was sent home by supervisor with anticipation of upcoming pain. I wasn't so much in pain as WVU alpha phi said, I threw up a lot. Same thing happened to another co-worker. I think it's was a combination of the meds and anesthesia. Also I would recommend getting the prescription for the stronger meds f the pain is intense, but would try Aleve first. BTW, I only had two removed and because of my experience I would only have the others removed if I absolutely had too. Good Luck!

I had all four pulled when I was 14. They gave me shots and gas. Then I remember the needle going towards my arm for them to hook up the IV. I then started waking up. That's all I remember of the actual surgery.

I was able to eat white bread that night. I think they gave me a couple vicodin after too. It all went smoothly!

Check the threads at the bottom of the page too!

I could post my comments, but I'm lazy....here ya go;)

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=69016

I'm terrified of surgery and anything like that, so I was a wreck before I got my four wisdom teeth out. Because I was so scared, the oral surgeon gave me a sedative shot (which doesn't put you totally under but you are REALLY out of it) along with nitrous oxide and novocaine. I was pretty anxious, so I was huffing N02 like it was going out of style. My doctor actually had to tell me not to breathe it in so deeply, but it helped a lot. :) If you're anxious about the procedure, see if the doctor can sedate you.

During the surgery, I sort of remember the doctor actually taking out the teeth, but parts were blank. It didn't hurt at all, and I was so, so out if it that I didn't even care that I could feel the "pressure" of the extraction. It was over in about 20 or 30 minutes.

If you get a sedative injection, prepare to be really "funny" afterwards... You definitely have to have a friend or relative to drive you home. I guess I belligerently started demanding that my mom take me to get a Chili's milkshake (??? I don't remember this at all) on the way home, even though it was only 8:30AM. She had to drive by the restaurant to prove it wasn't open yet.

I wasn't swollen but I did have a bit of soreness later on that day and into the next. I was prescribed Vicodin and it helped somewhat but I guess I don't really respond to painkillers as well as some people. I used a lot of icepacks and that actually worked better than the Vicodin.

My best advice is to take a few days off, rent some seasons of a TV show you've been wanting to see (I made it all the way through the entire series of Arrested Development) and plan on vegging on the couch. Stock up on slimfast/meal replacement shakes and mushy foods like pasta for the few days after the procedure.

I'm sure your doctor told you to not use straws or smoke for a week afterwards. My good friend smoked the day after he got his wisdom teeth out and he gave himself the most painful dry sockets... it was horrible.

Hope that helps, good luck with everything!

Ii am 38 and still have all four of mine. My dentist says there is no need to take them out if they have not bothered me so far! alll i know is i was doing the happy dance especially after hearing that after having a molar extracted i cant take dental pain well.

I had all four out at once when I was 14 or 15. Bed, ice cream, and pain killers for three days. It was heaven!:D

ok, so I totally should have searched this first before I posted! Sorry for a repeat thread! :o

Thanks everyone so far for your replies. A couple of those things I hadn't heard before (kddani-thanks for the good pillowcase tips! I hadn't thought of that.) I have to admit I'm scared to death b/c I've never had surgery before. I've had stitches as a kid but that doesn't count b/c they just numb the area, not you. So as for how I'm going to react to the happy juice.... I have no clue. I do get an IV, that's all I know. And Percocet. Although my surgeon told me to take as few as possible. He encourages that I only take them the first day and then move over to an OTC. My only challenge will be since I struggle taking pills between pain killers and antibotics, I may go loopy trying to force down the pills! :p

But once again, thanks for all the FYI's and keep them coming!! One can never have too many thoughts on something like this!

So true. I have no memory of doing this, but my mom told me when I was ready to go home I stood up and gave the nurse a hug. Then I proceeded to walk to the side of the room where the door was in my first room (I woke up in a recovery room) and hit the wall. It was also really amusing to see the text messages I sent to my boyfriend on the way home.. reminded me of my texting after 10+ drinks.

You will go to Happy Land. I promise. From one person who was terrified to another...you'll be fine once you get the shot.

Thanks AChiOSnap! :D


Shockingly... a guy I work with got the happy IV and didn't go under. It took his doctor a long time to get him knocked out. Thus since he had so much when he came out of it, he flipped his lid! He had no clue where he was and didn't recognize his parents. They thought they were going to have to call 911 to have someone come help them. It seems like if you want to find the humor in the whole ordeal, just laugh at the stories of how you act after you leave the office! :)

I had mine out junior year of high school. I had nitrous oxide and thought the oral surgeon was the funniest guy ever. :rolleyes: I don't remember it being painful, just lots of pressure as they were being removed.

My dad came with and drove me home (it was in a city 30 minutes from where we lived) and I was out of school the next few days. I don't think I had prescription painkillers or anything, just took advil as needed.

Ugh, you suck! I got them out 2 at a time. It was much easier that way, but I was back at work the next day, both times. :(

Oh what horrible memories! :rolleyes:

I only had 3 of my wisdom teeth and they were impacted. There was a chance of one of them hitting a nerve and making my face paralyzed. So at the age of 16 they came out. They had to cut them out... which was not fun at all. Luckily it only took about 2 weeks to be near normal. :D

I was knocked all the way out, and don't remember much of anything other than the doctor saying count backwards, and then him waking me up by slapping my fac! :eek:

I also remember trying to get out of the car and go into the store with my mom when she was getting my perscription filled. I was so out of it I fell right on my butt while getting out of the car. lol. :D

Good luck!!

I had my 2 left ones taken out while I had braces on. My orthodontist wouldn't take the braces off until my wisdom teeth on that side were out. The asshat (who has screwed up two of my other friends teeth to the point where they had to get braces a second time) should have had my other two out also because now they are screwing up my $5000 smile. I'll be looking forward to that surgery some time this summer.

All I got was the shot. I didn't want to go out because I heard horror stories of my friends puking their brains out when they woke up. My mouth was totally numb and the only thing that annoyed me was the sound of them breaking the tooth to get it out because it was under my gums still. I used the icepack but it was hurting my skin. The only part that sucked was when my mom took the gauze out and I had the worst dry socket. Oh yeah and having to rinse with salt water. Gross.

I should also add that to anyone who gets ear aches alot, get your teeth checked out. My dentist said that wisdom teeth are most likely what is causing my random ear aches.

I got all four of mine taken out one christmas break during college. I went to a great oral surgeon who prescribed me valium for BEFORE the surgery, and vicodin for after. I had an IV and was completely asleep, THANK GOD. The only thing I remember was how hard it was to wake up...the dr. kept telling me to open my eyes, then he wouldn't let me sleep while I was in recovery. I was really sore for about a month afterward and continued to take the vicodin off and on for the month.

Valium is GOOD stuff!

Is it wise to slap someone in the face after they've had oral surgery?? :confused:

Percocet's better. :cool:

I believe they're used for different things. Oxycodone (Percocet) is a pain reliever, whereas valium is anti-anxiety. :)

My Dad's a dentist. I got my teeth taken out by an oral surgeon. My teeth did not have roots, so they rolled around and were difficult to grasp when taking them out.

Since my dad made me become a dental assistant, I had to give the final instructions for all extractions:

• No Drinking Alcohol
• No Smoking
• No Spitting (Hocking Luggies)
• Here is extra 2X2 Gauze to replace and clamp down to generate a clot
• Take your pain pills now and every 4 hours afterward.
• Drink tepid liquids and eat creamy soups for 1 week or so
• DO NOT dislodge the clots because it causes a dry socket, that hurts worse than the extraction or any large cavity.
• If you dislodge the clots, then call your Professional healthcare provider immediately.
• Use moist heat and cold packs to eliminate the swelling. 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off then rest for 30 minutes.
• You should have resolution of all major symptoms in 1-2 weeks.
• If there is any redding or large amounts of blood, that is an emergency, call your Professional Healthcare provider.

Oh, I know what they are. Like I said: Percocet's better. Valium calms you. Percocet makes your whole world beautiful...then knocks you on your butt. :D

I was also lucky enough to be completely asleep for getting all four of mine out. When I woke up, for some reason I thought I was in jail or a drunk tank, and kept telling my mom that I was never going to drink again - which is especially weird, since at the time, I'd never drank before ;) She spent the whole car ride home talking to my dad on the phone, and laughing at me because I wouldn't stop talking, even though she couldn't understand a word I was saying. After that, I only had OTC meds, but never felt any pain from the surgery.

I just had mine out a few weeks ago, and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I was very nervous, so my dentist gave me some of that laughing gas a little before putting me to sleep with the IV. In 2 seconds, I was gone. All I remember is 3 people helping me out to the car, and my parents got me ice cream on the way home. I slept most of the day, and the painkillers the dentist gave me made me sleep even more. I was eating jello and ice cream that night, so it wasn't too bad. My face was swollen for over a week, but it eventually went away. The pain wasn't a lot of fun; the swelling just made it worse. But I've talked to a few of my friends who had little to no swelling, so it just depends on the situation. People react to the pain medication in different ways; it only made me sleepy, but it made some of my friends sick. Hopefully you handle it pretty well. Good luck!!! :)

I had mine out-all four, even though only two actually needed to come out. Anyway-I got a choice of sedation or general anaesthesia. I chose to go under, no sedation for me. Was out like a light, seemed like 10 seconds later I was waking up.
I was scheduled for a dental cleaning that day but my mother called up and canceled and they told her not to let me have the prescription painkillers (percs I think) but to stick to OTC meds. I was awake and dizzy with the pain until one of my friends told me to take the percs. After that, all was good. Never listen to your dentist's office, only your oral surgeon.
Also I lived on mashed potatoes the entire week and slept on the couch because I hurt too much to lie in bed. The couch was just right.
Some people need their wound sites rinsed out at the next checkup-however, be aware, the mouth is the fastest healing place in your body. They looked at my mouth and said it was perfect.
So-take the painkillers they give you, load up on mashed potatoes and ice cream, lie on the couch and watch tv (rent DVDs!), do your salt-water rinses and do nothing they told you not to. Also, go with the general anaesthesia-then you're guaranteed not to remember a thing.

That's pretty much my experience. I had two wisdom teeth that were somehow semi-attached to the jawbone, so I got to go to a hospital. I had the surgery first thing in the morning, and stayed completely stoned & ice-packed until the next night! I had zero swelling or bruising!

I got all of my wisdom teeth pulled when I was in the 11th grade. I honestly don't think I would have survived with out my prescription meds! I was in a lot of pain. I was not able to drink much of anything besides water, because everything else made my mouth sore. I was really sick the first two day after. I ate Wendy's Frosty's for a week.

i looked like a chipmunk and even on narcotics i was still in pain. my mouth bled for a good three days.

I've been in dentistry... gulp...almost 30 years. The only problems I've noticed is when patients don't follow post-op instructions. Smoking is one of the biggest no nos as is not resting. Rent a few DVDs and chill for a while.

YEAH!!!! I like dentists! Are you General Practice or specialized?

And yeah, I've had my share of assisting in the treatment of dry sockets... Not cool for the patient.

But since my father practiced in the 'hood, he got some interesting characters in his office...

Like the crack addict who had 1-2 teeth and decided that he needed them...

or

The lady who couldn't read and didn't realize she was allergic to penicillan, so on her malpractice complaint, her children wrote that she was allergic to "all the the cillans"...

I got others... Reason why I could not "do" dentristry... ;)

Once again, thanks you all! I intend to follow my post-ops to the letter!! Dry socket is my biggest fear and I don't intend to do anything that could cause that to happen. I mean, it still could anyway, but I'm not going to go out of my way to make it happen! Oh, and since you can't smoke afterwards, I've decided that seems like a good time to quit so i will be doing that as well. I am also blessed that I have one of the best surgeons in the city doing my procedure. About 5 people in his office and 2 of my co-workers have used him for their wisdom teeth as well so I feel like I'm in good hands. After all this fun is over (I have them out in about 2 weeks) I will post my own funny stories! I hope you all get a good laugh out of them the same way I did yours! :D (kddani's and WVU Alpha Phi's are the funniest so far to me)

Another way to avoid dry sockets is to not drink out of a straw! I completely avoided them by not drinking with straws, no matter how difficult that was! Good luck though!

Me two! Back when a medium Frosty cost about $1.19. It hurt me to smile for 2 or weeks afterwards.

FYI - frozen peas make wonderful ice packs for your face (or anywhere else)!